Coalitions are powerful drivers of systemic change, but their long-term success depends on how they are built from the start. While many coalitions form around shared frustration or inequity, those rooted primarily in opposition often struggle to sustain momentum. Lasting, high-impact coalitions are grounded instead in a clear shared vision and aligned values. By defining what they aim to build—and how they will work together—partners create a foundation for trust, adaptability, and collective ownership. Organizations that invest early in vision-setting, values alignment, and inclusive leadership practices are better positioned to strengthen collaboration, navigate complexity, and achieve meaningful, scalable outcomes across communities and workforce systems.

It seems like today, conflict is inevitable. But where does conflict come from? In this blog, I reflect on the concepts of values and alignment to offer one idea for how conflict originates as well as how it can be mitigated.